Everton must buy or be caught standing still, says David Moyes

Everton have turned their attention to Hoffenheim's Demba Ba in an attempt to bring in new talent. Photograph: John Walton/Empics

David Moyes has revealed his concern that Everton could be caught "standing still" if they fail to invest in new talent but remains confident of signing a much-needed striker before the transfer window closes.

The Everton manager now has funds for a loan deal having sold Steven Pienaar to Tottenham Hotspur for £3m this week and reduced his wage bill by off-loading Yakubu Ayegbeni to Leicester City until the end of the season.

Having had to sell players to buy for the past two seasons, however, and been thwarted in a January move for the Monaco forward Dieumerci Mbokani, Moyes fears the club could be overtaken by Premier League rivals who do have the money to invest.

Moyes, who has consolidated the bulk of his Everton squad on new long-term contracts over the past year, said: "I've not really liked any of the last four or five transfer windows. I've not really enjoyed them because they have been really difficult for us.

"There is a worry that we will stand still if we don't spend money, but if you have none that's the way it is and you just have to deal with it. We have said we are trying to look for investment and I am positive I will bring somebody in.

"You know the players need a boost as well, they need to see something moving forward, and I'm aware of that. I have been a player myself and I have seen how it can boost the squad, so we'll try to do that. But it won't be with a [permanent] transfer."

The Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba, who has seen moves to West Ham United and Stoke City collapse this month over a failed medical, could be Moyes' next target after being unable to secure Mbokani.

"We made an offer to get Mbokani on loan, for his wages and the loan fee which was the best we could have done but I think Monaco have bigger, permanent offers in for him," Moyes said. "There are not many clubs who would let a player go out on loan six months after spending £7m on him."

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